Currency processing systems, coin processing machines, coin imaging sensor assemblies and methods of making and methods of using the same are presented herein. A currency processing system is disclosed which includes a housing with a coin input area for receiving coins and coin receptacles for stowing processed coins. A disk-type coin processing unit, which is coupled to the coin input area and coin receptacles, includes a rotatable disk for imparting motion to coins, and a sorting head for separating and discharging coins to the coin receptacles. A sensor assembly is mounted to, adjacent or within the sorting head adjacent the rotatable disk. The sensor assembly includes a sensor circuit board with photodetector elements and light emitting devices. An illumination control device is communicatively coupled to and operable for controlling the light emitting device(s). A photodetector control device is communicatively coupled to and operable for controlling the sensor circuit board.

Detection of surface irregularities in coins. Three-dimensional topographic data of at least one surface of a coin, having at least one feature, is acquired and used to determine characteristics of the coin features, based on vector components of normal vectors at various points on the surface of the coin. The feature characteristics are then compared to reference feature characteristics. Based on this comparison, an irregularity indication is provided if differences between the feature characteristics and the reference characteristics are found.

According to one embodiment, an optical inspection apparatus including: an imaging optical system; one or more light sources; a light guide which extends cylindrically along an optical axis of the imaging optical system and whose end face is opposed to the one or more light sources; a total reflecting surface formed on an inner surface of the light guide to totally internally reflect light struck into the light guide from the end face; a mirror surface formed on an outer surface of the light guide to reflect light struck into the light guide from the one or more light sources, toward the inspection target; and a transmission surface formed on the inner surface of the light guide to transmit the light reflected by the mirror surface, toward the inspection target.

A coin identification apparatus includes: a line sensor that detects line image data of a coin being conveyed, the coin being subject to identification; an acquisition unit that acquires the line image data at predetermined sampling intervals; an estimation unit that calculates, for each of the acquired line image data items, a similarity between the acquired line image data and reference line data for each angle, the reference line data being a part of reference pattern image data indicating a coin having a reference pattern, the estimation unit estimating a rotary angle of the coin subject to identification based on the calculated similarity; a correction unit that corrects the line image data based on the estimated rotary angle; and an identification unit that identifies the coin subject to identification based on the corrected line image data.

A currency classification device that classifies currency types using currency images includes a feature value calculator, a storage, and an output unit. The feature value calculator calculates feature values for every currency type that is a candidate for classification from an image area common in images of every currency type. The storage stores the feature values calculated by the feature value calculator from learning images, which are currency models, as templates for every currency type. The output unit outputs the currency type corresponding to the template having a highest value of similarity with the feature value calculated by the feature value calculator an input image, which is a currency image subject to classification, in the templates stored in the storage as a classification result.

The invention relates to a testing device 10, that can be a component of a feeding device to feed coin blanks 11 to a coining press or a minting station 12. The testing device 10 has a contactless measuring first sensor device 30 and/or a second sensor device 40. Every sensor device 30, 40 that is present controls an associated removal device 32 or 41. Each sensor device 30, 40 detects a certain property of the coin blank and compares it with a corresponding standard specification. If an unacceptable deviation from the specification is detected, the sensor device 30, 40 in question controls the respective associated removal device 32, 41 to discharge the coin blank from a main conveyor device 13 which transports the coin blanks from a feeding end 14 to an exit end 15.

A coin feeding device (for example, feeding unit 20) includes: a disk 22 having a plurality of protrusions 22b at a surface, the disk 22 disposed so as to be rotatable in a tilted state and configured to catch coins by the protrusions 22b to move the coins upward while rotating; a cover 21 configured to form a space for storing a coin between the cover 21 and the surface of the disk 22; a guide 26 configured to guide a peripheral edge of a coin such that a part of the coin having been caught by each protrusion 22b and moved upward protrudes from the disk 22; and a taking-out unit (for example, taking-out mechanism 28) configured to grip only one coin protruding from the disk 22, remove the coin from the disk 22, and discharge the coin to outside of the disk 22.

Embodiments relate to a non-fungible physical (NFP) item. The non-fungible physical (NFP) item comprises an identifier. The identifier is embedded and layered within the non-fungible physical item in an unplanned pattern. The identifier in the unplanned pattern is configured to provide high security against counterfeiting of the non-fungible physical (NFP) item. The identifier comprises at least one of a random marker and a unique marker. The unplanned pattern comprises at least one of a random pattern and a unique pattern. Further the non-fungible physical (NFP) item is registered as a non-fungible token on a blockchain. The NFP item is then paired with the non-fungible token for enabling two-way mutual authentication and enhanced authenticity. The pairing of the NFP item with the non-fungible token enables tracking condition, provenance, and grading of the NFP item.

A 3D imaging and image processing system is configured to collect and analyze data defining a predetermined set of physical and visual attributes of a collectible object. The collected 3D image information is stored in a database, which also contains a record of 3D image information associated with a defined gold-standard object of the same kind. The analysis is used to generate as an output an objective valuation of the collectible object based upon a comparison to the stored gold-standard image data. When used with collectible coins, the objective valuation is used in the assignment of a specific grade, using a well-known industry grading standard.

A coin input to a deposit opening is determined a denomination by a coin identifying device, and is allocated and held in a denomination storing and dispensing device in a course of being transported to a coin transporting and distributing device. The coin of a specified denomination is sent from the denomination storing and dispensing device based on a pay-out command, and paid out to a pay-out opening by a pay out transporting device. When the holding amount of the denomination storing and dispensing device becomes full, the coin is not allocated to the denomination storing and dispensing device by the coin transporting and distributing device, but is dropped to an overflow coin slot, guided to an overflow coin guiding tube juxtaposed to the denomination storing and dispensing device and held in an overflow coin storing unit arranged on the lower side of the denomination storing and dispensing device.